Answers for Each Day - July 4

Pride and self-sufficiency are unmistakable signs of a heart that is in desperate need of reviving. Isaiah 57:15 tells us,

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

To have a contrite heart literally means you break easily. Even at the thought of grieving God's Spirit you break and repent very quickly. It means you walk softly in your heart before God.

God says He will revive those with a humble spirit and a contrite heart. But one of the great dangers among Christians today—especially for those living in the western world with all of its abundance—is a belief that we don't need anything.

More than ever we need to read the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:17,

"Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."

How can you be miserable and naked and not know it? It's obvious that Jesus is speaking of their inward, spiritual condition. Apparently, their outward wealth blinded them to their inward poverty. They fell into the trap of pride, which is one of the inherent dangers that comes with prosperity. As Christians living in a very prosperous western world, we need to heed this word!

At Disneyland there is a ride with cool little cars. I remember once seeing a little boy on the ride with his dad, and his feet didn't even reach the pedals! But Junior thought he was driving, oblivious to the fact that Daddy was actually driving the car and making it go.

We need to remember that our feet don't even reach the pedals, and that Daddy, our God, is the One who makes this thing go. We need to maintain a humble heart.

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